Pantothenic acid is essential for life because it is the vitamin precursor to the molecule that
A) provides a reactive disulfide that can participate in redox reactions within the enzyme active site of pyruvate dehydrogenase.
B) can accept one or two electrons in redox reactions in the cell.
C) is involved in at least 200 redox reactions in the cell.
D) is a cofactor in the biosynthetic pathways that produce fatty acids, acetylcholine, heme, and cholesterol.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pantothenic acid is a precursor to coenzyme A (CoA), which is a crucial cofactor in the biosynthetic pathways that produce fatty acids, acetylcholine, heme, and cholesterol. CoA also plays a role in energy metabolism by facilitating the transfer of acetyl groups for use in the citric acid cycle. While pantothenic acid is indirectly involved in redox reactions, it does not directly provide a reactive disulfide or accept electrons.

Pantothenic Acid Is Essential for Life Because It Is the Vitamin